Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell admits he was ‘really hurt’ by backlash when he started a relationship with EastEnders star Tanya Franks

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Scott Mitchell, the husband of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, has revealed he was very upset by the negative reaction people had to his relationship with EastEnders actress Tanya Franks.

The 62-year-old director revealed their relationship last year. They became close while working together to raise awareness about dementia after Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Tanya, famous for her role as Rainie Cross on the BBC soap opera, previously worked with Barbara on EastEnders, but stopped due to declining health.

Scott began caring for Barbara in 2014 after she became ill. They had been married for 20 years before she passed away in 2020 at the age of 83.

Scott recently discussed the backlash he faced after beginning a relationship with Tanya, who is 58 years old.

He explained to The Mirror that people often criticize quick decisions, and it’s simple to judge from the outside, particularly on social media. He added that those critics often don’t realize the impact their words can have.

Scott mentioned Tanya is understanding when he discusses Barbara, likely because Tanya herself experienced a significant loss – her stepfather, Derek, passed away in 2024 after fighting a long illness for eleven years.

He explained that she’s always open to discussing Barbara whenever he needs to, and he offers her the same support. He feels comfortable bringing her up without worrying about whether it’s a good time, and he would never say anything he thought might upset her.

Scott added Barbara would approve of his new relationship, having ‘liked’ Tanya herself.

The couple will celebrate Christmas with both of their families, but Scott shared that they will also take time to remember those they’ve lost, as is fitting for the holiday.

Over the years, the couple became close friends while working together on ‘Bab’s Army’ to increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.

Elsewhere in the interview, the director touched upon Dame Barbara’s battle with Alzheimer’s. 

Honestly, hearing him talk about Barbara just wrecked me. He said seeing the fear in her eyes, when she was lost and didn’t recognize him – or even herself – it’s something that will never leave him. And it shouldn’t! He’s so right – nobody, nobody deserves to slip away like that. It’s awful, and we absolutely have to keep bringing it up until things change. It just…it gets to me so much, thinking about it.

Tanya had previously discussed the impact Dame Barbara left behind, as well as Scott’s work to highlight the devastating effects of the illness.

She explained that all she can do is support him in sharing his experiences. She understands the feeling of isolation that often comes with caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease.

Sharing our experiences helped the support network expand. For me, this isn’t just about my stepfather’s Alzheimer’s; it’s also about honoring those who’ve fought the disease before us. We’ve raised over $100,000 through running three marathons.

Scott added: ‘I’m incredibly happy. Me being unhappy and alone is not going to bring Barbara back. 

Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, and we each only get one chance at it. Someone will always find a way to criticize, though – you can count on it.

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2025-12-10 00:33